alexleavitt

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What are some boyfriend/girlfriend/relationship hacks? Example from my girlfriend inside. (Potentially NSFW?) by cjknjknin AskReddit

[–]alexleavitt 0 points1 point ago

I can tell by your list of Japanese restaurants that you live in Los Angeles. :D

Indie Game: The Movie opening Friday in North Hollywood! DEFINITELY check this out out. by alexleavittin LosAngeles

[–]alexleavitt[S] 0 points1 point ago

EDIT: Definitely check this one* out.

Anyway, here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhaT78i1x2M

[GrMuD] FOOD TRUCKS! Which are your favorite? by vonpigtailsin LosAngeles

[–]alexleavitt 1 point2 points ago

Tempura Truck!

I'm thinking about moving to LA. What do you like and dislike about living here? by umbiscoin LosAngeles

[–]alexleavitt 2 points3 points ago*

Here's the one-year perspective (moved from Boston last June), from someone who lives Downtown and doesn't own a car (has a bicycle):

Pros:

  • Weather: usually sunny and warm, occasionally cloudy and cool (though it does get a bit monotonous...)
  • Produce: all year round you get amazing fruit and veggies

Ehs:

  • Public transit: Trains are OK (wish they went farther out to the coast), buses are fairly unreliable (especially if one never comes); and the time-per-distance isn't great
  • Food: You really have to hunt for the good spots, and for the most part they're always more expensive than $25/meal (in Boston, you could easily do $15 and great, diverse food was everywhere)
  • Meeting people (friends): Meet-up groups are everywhere, and there's usually something awesome/interesting to do every weekend if you can find it, but traveling around is difficult
  • Neighborhoods: there's a pretty good diverse set of neighborhoods, but not as distinct as I felt NYC was
  • Rent: I was paying about the same in Boston (though I'm Downtown and splitting with my partner, to give perspective)
  • Geek culture: Boston is a really intellectual city; you really have to search around in LA for both people and events

Cons:

  • Networking (professional): Feels like it's more difficult than other cities (eg., Boston, NYC, San Fran) & especially harder to get around and meet people at events, since the city is so large
  • Transportation: traffic (if you drive a car); distance (if you ride a bike/rely on public transit)
  • Good bagels and pizza are RARE

Takeaways:

  • Keep in mind that LA is really a dozen cities all next to each other. It's really big and that hinders some of the benefits.
  • Take the opportunity to meet a few people before arriving here, because it'll help meet others easily. Otherwise, rely on r/LA's Meetup group (something which I personally hope to take advantage of more this summer)

In a Google+ Hangout, participant is using Tenorin to demonstrate Hatsune Miku dancing on his hand by kyonkunin Vocaloid

[–]alexleavitt 0 points1 point ago

Downloaded the app. The hand detection is really wonky. Wish it were more editable (eg., you could add your own animations & songs).

World's Longest Barrel of Monkeys Chain. To Benefit Child's Play. by gameguy43in gaming

[–]alexleavitt -1 points0 points ago

What are you suggesting? Barrel of Monkeys is most definitely a game, therefore qualifying it for submission to /r/gaming.

So I gave a talk on Minecraft... by alexleavittin Minecraft

[–]alexleavitt[S] 1 point2 points ago

If you have time (it's an hour total, across 4 videos), I'd love to hear thoughts.

Should I move from Boston to Santa Monica? by ambientdaysin LosAngeles

[–]alexleavitt 0 points1 point ago

Of course, but I primarily mean in terms of walkability, eatability, etc. If Silver Lake is a mix of Allston & Central Square, Santa Monica's more like a combo of Inman Square and Newbury St.

Should I move from Boston to Santa Monica? by ambientdaysin LosAngeles

[–]alexleavitt 0 points1 point ago

I moved from Boston to Los Angeles this past summer (for my PhD at USC; I also brought along my girlfriend who had just graduated).

We ended up in Downtown, because we don't have a car. Bikes + public transit has been OK, but it's definitely limited what we do and where we can go (especially in terms of job interviews).

I'd highly recommend getting some sort of contact out here before arriving when she starts looking; my partner looked all summer before finding even a part-time gig in her particular profession. It's definitely harder to meet people in LA than in Boston, especially for networking.

But as people have already said in the thread, the Reddit meetups are good here (though personally we have to attend more!).

I'd recommend shipping as much as you can by Fedex (or similar company) and bringing the rest on the plane. Of course, don't bring more than you need -- Amazon Prime is super awesome.

As far as Santa Monica, it's a lot like Cambridge (in my opinion): lots of restaurants, walkable, a bit friendlier than other neighborhoods. The tech scene's also really vibrant there.

As far as job sites, Craigslist is OK, but Indeed is probably your best bet.

Created a sticker campaign concept for the Metro expansion. by alexleavittin LosAngeles

[–]alexleavitt[S] 2 points3 points ago

I've been trying to look into removable vinyl printer paper. Definitely want something that doesn't damage the new maps.

Created a sticker campaign concept for the Metro expansion. by alexleavittin LosAngeles

[–]alexleavitt[S] 8 points9 points ago

Maybe just switch it to "privileged people" then.

Created a sticker campaign concept for the Metro expansion. by alexleavittin LosAngeles

[–]alexleavitt[S] 0 points1 point ago

Was on the Metro last night and realized the new maps (including the Expo Line) were put up in the cars. Then realized the huge white space on the West side. Figured it could use some art.

The TrainifestDestiny website could be used for various things like more petitions and general information about the expansion (and of course info about the lackbash against the expansion from the Beverly Hills community).

This is not a real campaign (though it could be). Criticism appreciated.

Discussion going on now in r/DepthHub on Vocaloid. by alexleavittin Vocaloid

[–]alexleavitt[S] 7 points8 points ago

Not quite PhD yet. :P Hopefully Miku will help me achieve that goal. _''

Redditor Dammedia explains Vocaloids - Japanese 'virtual' popstars that have held real-world concerts - and how they are a reflection of their fans by simonjpin DepthHub

[–]alexleavitt 7 points8 points ago

Yeah, this comment brings up one of the more fascinating aspects of the media ecosystem: not officiality per se, but what might be described as Miku's "canon." How exactly do songs become those that every fan needs to know about? How do songs enter into the live concerts, video games, and more professional productions? There's certainly aspects of popularity and quality here (mediated by rankings and spread on the video sharing sites), but I'd venture to say that there's a bit more at play in terms of how media makes its way around the fan network to accrue value in fans' hearts.

Redditor Dammedia explains Vocaloids - Japanese 'virtual' popstars that have held real-world concerts - and how they are a reflection of their fans by simonjpin DepthHub

[–]alexleavitt 2 points3 points ago

I think it was a combination of her image/name (初音 + ミク are a bit strange is a new/good way) and the rapid circulation of her image on Japanese mass media (eg., television, newspapers, etc.). You can see a huge boom in searches for Miku in Japan in 2007 (check Google trends).

And keep in mind this news spike was pre-live-concerts.

I wouldn't say unanswerable, but in terms of analyzing data, it's something I'm particularly interested in, though it'll have to come from media analysis and some ethnographic research talking to fans and individuals in the media industry.

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